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In the United States, the average individual consumes 5 or more teaspoons of salt on a daily basis, which is approximately 20 times the amount that the body requires, states the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. To avoid developing medical problems, it is essential to eat only the recommended dietary allowance for sodium, which is 2,000 milligrams per day. When choosing low-sodium products, consumers should look for items marked "low sodium," "no salt added," "reduced sodium" or "140 mg of sodium per serving" in the Nutrition Facts label.

Fresh fruits, such as apples, bananas or oranges and fresh vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, spinach and broccoli, are low in sodium. Frozen or dried, unsweetened fruits and low-salt tomato or V-8 juice also contain minimal sodium. In terms of protein, fresh or frozen beef, pork, lamb, fish or poultry are advisable for a low-salt diet.

Low-sodium dairy products include soy milk with added calcium, ice cream, ice milk and low or reduced-sodium cheeses, such as ricotta, cream cheese and mozzarella. Alternative seasonings, including chopped vegetables, limes, lemons, ginger, herbs and other spices, can also be used to flavor food instead of using salt, suggests healthfinder.gov.